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Best Forensic Science Schools Near Paducah, KY (2026)
Paducah, Kentucky has 1 accredited school offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $40,025 to $40,025 per year for indexed programs. Paducah has a population of about 26,894. Median household income is $51,243 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kentucky, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $71,670 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Forensic Science Schools to Paducah
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer forensic science programs near Paducah, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Paducah city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kentucky schools on the Kentucky forensic science page.
Forensic Science Wages Near Paducah
Paducah is part of the Paducah, KY-IL metro area (BLS area code 37140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kentucky statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forensic Science Technician | $61,470 | KY statewide | $71,394 |
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $71,670 | KY statewide | $83,240 |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer | $59,730 | Paducah, KY-IL | $69,373 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Paducah at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,894 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $51,243 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 28.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 86.1 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Paducah-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs
- Murray, KY – 36.2 mi away (20,431 pop)
- Cape Girardeau, MO – 53.1 mi away (55,253 pop)
- Carbondale, IL – 55.1 mi away (68,540 pop)
- Madisonville, KY – 65.5 mi away (24,565 pop)
- Hopkinsville, KY – 66.3 mi away (32,733 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited forensic science schools are near Paducah, KY?
Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Paducah. The closest is Union University in Jackson, TN (97.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Union University (97.1 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying forensic science roles near Paducah?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles near Paducah are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($71,670), Forensic Science Technician ($61,470), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($59,730). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kentucky statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Murray instead of Paducah?
Murray, KY is 36.2 miles from Paducah and has its own set of local forensic science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Paducah an affordable place to study forensic science?
Paducah’s median household income of $51,243 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Paducah while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kentucky public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Forensic Science Programs
- Is a Forensic Science degree worth it?
- Main Forensic Science degree guide
- Online Forensic Science programs in Kentucky
- Forensic Science programs by state
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Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.